Famous Birthdays·January 14·Dave Campbell (infielder)
Dave Campbell (infielder)

USDave Campbell (infielder)

A versatile utility player turned beloved broadcaster, whose nickname became a staple of baseball radio for a generation.

Born 1942 (age 84)·American baseball player·Birthday: January 14·The Silent Generation

Photo: Dean's Photo Service · Public domain

Biography

Dave Campbell's baseball life unfolded in two distinct, successful acts. As a player, he was the definition of a journeyman, a reliable infielder who spent eight seasons with four teams, most notably the San Diego Padres. His solid glove and right-handed bat made him a useful piece, though he never quite secured an everyday role. It was after hanging up his cleats that Campbell found his true calling. He transitioned seamlessly to the broadcast booth, where his deep knowledge of the game and steady, insightful delivery made him a fixture. For years, he was a central voice on ESPN Radio's 'Game of the Week,' providing national audiences with clear analysis. The nickname 'Soup,' a playful nod to his last name, became familiar to millions of listeners, cementing his place as a trusted interpreter of the sport long after his playing days ended.

The Silent Generation

1928–1945

Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.

Dave was born in 1942, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.

#1 When Dave Was Born

The biggest hits of 1942

#1 Movie

Bambi

Best Picture

Mrs. Miniver

Dave's Life & Times

The world at every milestone

1942Born

Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific

Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1947Started school

India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found

Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1955Became a teenager

Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat

Gas: $0.29/galHome: $9,550Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley & His CometsBest Picture: Marty
1958Could drive

NASA founded

Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Volare" — Domenico ModugnoBest Picture: Gigi
1960Could vote

Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates

Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1963Turned 21

JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech

Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1972Turned 30

Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission

Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1982Turned 40

Michael Jackson releases Thriller

Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1992Turned 50

LA riots after Rodney King verdict

Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2002Turned 60

Euro currency enters circulation

Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2012Turned 70

Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting

Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 80

Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies

Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 84 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump

Key Achievements

  • Played in 576 Major League games over eight seasons, primarily as an infielder for the San Diego Padres, St. Louis Cardinals, and Houston Astros.
  • Became a lead analyst for ESPN Radio's national baseball broadcasts, including Sunday Night Baseball and the World Series.
  • Served as the color commentator for the San Diego Padres television broadcasts for several seasons in the 1990s.

Did You Know?

He was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 4th round of the 1965 MLB draft out of the University of Michigan.

His broadcasting career began with the Padres shortly after his retirement as a player in 1974.

He is a member of the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor.

“You show up ready, do your job, and let the rest take care of itself.”

— Dave Campbell (infielder)

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